Carlos Tevez nets hat-trick as Manchester City record ‘team victory’

Carlos Tevez may have scored a hat-trick as Manchester City beat West Brom 3-0, but assistant manager
Brian Kidd insisted it was a team victory.

The Argentina striker was at his very best as City reignited their Premier League title challenge at Eastlands, on a day when Manchester United lost for the first time and Arsenal squandered a four-goal lead to draw 4-4 at Newcastle United.

Carlos Tevez scored a first-half hat-trick (PA)

Tevez opened the scoring from the penalty spot, netted a second from David Silva ‘s pass and then converted another spot-kick, all within the first 40 minutes.

He received a standing ovation when he was substituted late on and Kidd said the hat-trick hero fully deserved it – as did the rest of the City team.

‘It was another wonderful, fantastic performance from Carlos but we look at this as a team game,’ Roberto Mancini’s number two told the BBC.

‘We defend from the front and it was nice to keep a clean sheet because, with the attacking players we have, we know if we can do that we have a great chance.’

The comfortable win over West Brom moved City to within five points of table-topping Manchester United, ahead of an eagerly-awaited trip to Old Trafford.

Kidd added: ‘We deserved the win and we are full of confidence going into next week’s Manchester derby.’